Zarbab Ali has been found guilty of first-degree murder for the 2022 killing of his ex-wife, Rachel Castillo, and subsequently raping her corpse after exhuming it from a shallow grave. The conviction brings a measure of closure to a case that has horrified the public with its gruesome details.
On November 21, 2025, a jury in Ventura County, California, convicted Zarbab Ali, 28, of murdering Rachel Castillo, his 25-year-old estranged wife, in a crime that occurred in November 2022. Ali confessed to ambushing Castillo in her Simi Valley apartment, where he repeatedly stabbed her in the chest. He then wrapped her body in a blanket, attempted to clean the crime scene, and transported her to a remote area in the Antelope Valley for burial.
Castillo, a mother of two young children, was last seen on November 10, 2022, after dropping off her kids with Ali. Her sister discovered the bloody scene at their shared apartment, prompting a missing persons report. Castillo’s body was found three days later in a shallow grave, leading to Ali’s arrest on November 14, 2022, after an intensive investigation by local authorities.
In a shocking admission, Ali returned to the burial site the morning after the murder to dig up Castillo’s body and sexually assault it. During a police confession played in court, he stated, “Just to confirm that I am a monster, I raped her,” and claimed that this act was necessary to justify the murder in his mind, revealing a twisted rationale for his actions.
The trial revealed that Ali had no clear motive for the killing, though he mentioned having thoughts about it since their separation nine months prior. Prosecutor David Russell described the case as one of the most disturbing he has handled, emphasizing the premeditated nature of the crime and the additional violation of necrophilia, which added to the family’s anguish.
Ali’s defense did not dispute the facts but focused on his mental state, though the jury found him guilty of first-degree murder. He faces a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole, with sentencing scheduled for January 12, 2026, ensuring he will spend the rest of his life in prison.
The conviction has drawn comparisons to infamous serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, who also engaged in necrophilic acts, highlighting the rare but chilling nature of such crimes. Community members and Castillo’s family have expressed relief at the verdict, though they continue to grieve her loss and seek healing from the trauma.
Castillo was pursuing a master’s degree in clinical psychology at Pepperdine University, aspiring to become a marriage and family therapist. Her family remembers her as a dedicated mother and student, whose life was cut short tragically, leaving a void in the lives of her children and loved ones.
This case underscores the importance of thorough police investigations and the legal system’s role in addressing extreme violence. As Ali awaits sentencing, the focus shifts to supporting Castillo’s children and ensuring they receive the care needed to heal, while the community reflects on preventing such atrocities in the future.
